William Vereker

William Vereker (1841-22 January 1879) was a British Army lieutenant who served in the Anglo-Zulu War. He was attached to Colonel Anthony Durnford's Natal cavalry force, and he impressed Durnford with his riding skills, leading to him being accepted into Durnford's unit as the war neared in January 1879. During the Battle of Isandlwana, he, Lieutenant Teignmouth Melvill, and Nevill Coghill were entrusted with retrieving the Queen's Colours from the Zulu army, and, after Melvill and Coghill were killed, Vereker threw the colors into the Buffalo River to ensure that they would not be captured; he was killed shortly after.